replica

noun

rep·​li·​ca ˈre-pli-kə 

1

: an exact reproduction (as of a painting) executed by the original artist

a replica of this was painted … this year

—Constance Strachey

2

: a copy exact in all details

DNA makes a replica of itself

sailed a replica of the Viking ship

broadly : copy

this faithful, pathetic replica of a Midwestern suburb

—G. F. Kennan

Synonyms

• image
• twin
• clone
• picture
• duplicate
• portrait
• counterpart

Choose the Right Synonym for replica

reproduction, duplicate, copy, facsimile, replica mean a thing made to closely resemble another.

reproduction implies an exact or close imitation of an existing thing.

reproductions from the museum's furniture collection

duplicate implies a double or counterpart exactly corresponding to another thing.

a duplicate of a house key

copy applies especially to one of a number of things reproduced mechanically.

printed 1000 copies of the lithograph

facsimile suggests a close reproduction often of graphic matter that may differ in scale.

a facsimile of a rare book

replica implies the exact reproduction of a particular item in all details

a replica of the Mayflower

but not always in the same scale.

miniature replicas of classic cars

Examples of replica in a Sentence

We toured a replica of the ship.

It's an authentic replica of an ancient Greek urn.

Recent Examples on the Web

Its rebirth began as a digital model in The Golf Club video game and was brought to life in the sandy soil of central Wisconsin—now a near-exact replica. —Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 23 June 2025

In collaboration with The Intel Lab, Orion Intel created a 3D replica of the plant. —Jeff Goertzen, Oc Register, 22 June 2025

Farther south, Hodgenville is home to the first national monument dedicated to the 16th U.S. president, who famously opposed slavery: Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park, which includes a replica of Lincoln’s humble childhood log cabin home. —Tykesha Spivey Burton, AFAR Media, 19 June 2025

Set to dramatic music, the clip shows a small replica of a bomb with a nuclear symbol on it that a hand then strokes. —Brendan Cole shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "repetition, reply, copy of a work of art," noun derivative of replicare "to repeat, reply," borrowed from Latin replicāre "to turn back on itself, bend back, go over (a thought, topic) repeatedly" (Late Latin also "to restore, repeat, reply") — more at replicate entry 1

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

replica

noun

rep·​li·​ca ˈrep-li-kə 

1

: a close reproduction especially by the maker of the original

2

: a copy exact in all details : duplicate